Serving Utahns' legal research needs since 1852*

August 31, 2011

Library Closed on Labor Day, September 5

The law library, and all Utah State Courts, will be closed on Monday, September 5 for Labor Day. Our regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., resume Tuesday, September 7.

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, but many states, including Utah, made it a legal holiday before that. Utah declared Labor Day a holiday in 1892, four years before Utah became a state. Historically, Labor Day was a workers' holiday organized by labor unions and gave workers a chance to talk about their problems with management. While some states and local organizations still host Labor Day parades, now the holiday is often thought of as the last long weekend of summer.

State Agencies Return to Five Day Work Week

One of the most common questions we receive at the law library is: Are you open on Fridays? Unlike executive branch agencies, we are open five days per week. Soon, all state executive agencies will also be open on Fridays, This change is due to the enactment of HB 328, which was passed during the 2011 Veto Override Session.

Governor Gary Herbert issued a directive on June 1st indicating that all state agencies return to a five day work week on September 6th.

Need to find an executive agency office? See the directory of state agencies list online.

August 24, 2011

Court Interpreters Available for All Court Proceedings

As of April 2011, a court interpreter for non-English speakers is now available and provided and paid for by the judiciary in all court proceedings.

This includes all cases in all courts. It includes court hearings and conferences and mandatory court-sponsored programs such as court-annexed mediation and divorce classes. It extends to everyone associated with the case, such as parties, witnesses, and parents of juveniles. The full court interpreter policy is found in Rule 3-306(4) of the Judicial Council Rules of Judicial Administration.

Read more about interpreters and request a court interpreter here. Note that interpreters should be requested at least 3 days before the hearing.

August 23, 2011

Food Cart Rules and Regulations in Utah

Food carts and trucks are regulated by a number of state and local laws and regulations. Before starting a food cart or truck business, consult your local health department, read the regulations that apply to you and apply for the appropriate permits.

Located in the Salt Lake area? The Salt Lake Valley Health Department has information and applications for food carts, mobile units and shaved ice stands here. As the Health Department notes, you should also contact your city to determine what other regulations you'll need to follow.

August 17, 2011

Department of Justice Federal Legislative Histories

The U.S. Department of Justice has a new resource online for legal researchers and the general public: Federal Legislative Histories. These legislative histories were compiled by Department of Justice staff for internal employees, but are now available for anyone to read.

Each legislative history includes primary resources that describe the intent of the laws, such as the text of the law, house and/or senate bill reports, transcripts of legislative hearings hearings, and debates published in the Congressional Record.

August 15, 2011

Disposing of Electronic Waste in Utah

Rapid advances in technology mean shorter life spans for many common electronics. According to Greenpeace, the average life span of a computer has fallen from 4-6 years in 1997 to 2 years in 2005. As a result we bear the burden of more and more hazardous electronic waste.

The Utah legislature passed Senate Bill 184 during its 2011 session. The law, which becomes effective January 1, 2012, prohibits manufacturers from offering electronics for sale without establishing a public educational program on collecting and recycling for these products. It is still up to us consumers, however, to dispose of our e-waste responsibly.

August 11, 2011

Back to School: Vision Screening for Children

August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month.

Utah Code §53A-11-203 requires vision screening for children under the age of eight entering school for the first time. Parents or guardians must submit a certificate signed by a licensed health professional that their child has received vision screening or a written statement stating vision screening violates their personal beliefs.

A variety of free vision screening services are available. Check with your local school district to see if they provide a free vision screening clinic. Or, see if a local or national agency provides free services or referrals through helpmegrowutah.org, an information resource for parents of children up to eight years old. Search for agencies using the site's community resources database.

To learn more about children's eye health, see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' guide, Get Your Child's Vision Checked. Here, you can learn the signs of common children's eye problems and ways to protect children from eye injuries.

August 09, 2011

Growing and Selling Seasonal Produce in Utah

Utah Code 59-12-104 provides for the exemption of sales taxes on seasonal produce, seedlings and plants during their harvest season when sold by the producer or the producer’s employee or immediate family.

August 08, 2011

New Court of Appeals Briefs

The library has received 34 Court of Appeals briefs. The docket numbers range from 20071021--20100523 (list not inclusive).

If you're looking for a specific brief, contact the library by phone (801-238-7990) or email to make sure we have it. If you can't come in to make copies yourself, we offer a document delivery service for 25¢ per page and will scan the briefs and email them to you.